A Home-Made Fairy Tale

Bud, come here to your uncle a spell,     And I'll tell you something you mustn't tell -     For it's a secret and shore-'nuf true,     And maybe I oughtn't to tell it to you!     But out in the garden, under the shade     Of the apple-trees, where we romped and played     Till the moon was up, and you thought I'd gone     Fast asleep, That was all put on!     For I was a-watchin' something queer     Goin' on there in the grass, my dear!     'Way down deep in it, there I see     A little dude-Fairy who winked at me,     And snapped his fingers, and laughed as low     And fine as the whine of a mus-kee-to!     I kept still - watchin' him closer - and     I noticed a little guitar in his hand,     Which he leant 'ginst a little dead bee - and laid     His cigarette down on a clean grass-blade,     And then climbed up on the shell of a snail -     Carefully dusting his swallowtail -     And pulling up, by a waxed web-thread,     This little guitar, you remember. I said!     And there he trinkled and trilled a tune,     "My Love, so Fair, Tans in the Moon!"     Till presently, out of the clover-top     He seemed to be singing to, came k'pop!     The purtiest, daintiest Fairy face     In all this world, or any place!     Then the little ser'nader waved his hand,     As much as to say, "We'll excuse you!" and     I heard, as I squinted my eyelids to,     A kiss like the drip of a drop of dew!